Check-protecting apparatus



July 27 1926.

I. MINKIN ET AL CHECK PROTECTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheat 1 I. 7ZU67ZO 1 55;

July 27 1926.

l. MINKIN ET AL CHECK PROTECTING APPARATUS Filed Sept. 5, 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 @UQiUflT-hg,

July 27 1926 I. MINKIN ET AL CHECK PROTECTING APPARATUS Fild Sept. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet :5

Patented July 27, 1926..

UNITED STATES ISRAEL MINKIN AND LOUIS MAGIDSON, OF DORCHESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

onncx-rnornc'rme APPARATUS.

Application filed September Our present invention is a new and improved method of protecting commercial paper, and a novel apparatus .therefor.

There are many devices for the protection of checks, notes, drafts, and the like, but all of these to a greater or less extent, have been unsatisfactory. too expensive, and many are susceptible to change of the check after operating thereon.

An important object of our invention, therefore, is to provide an apparatus, preferably manually controlled, which will permanently protect a check by cutting and coloring a predetermined design, figure, or the like preferably comprising a plurality of lines, and preventing any possibility of alteration.

A further feature and advantage of our invention is in certifying checks, and we have a device which will perform the operation of certification promptly, positively, and in a permanent manner.

A further object of our invention, there fore, is to provide an apparatus for protecting checks, which apparatus can be locked against movement or operation by other than the one intended to use the same.

A further object of our invention is to provide a check protecting device which is neat, attractive, and yet constructed in a sturdy, wear-resisting manner.

In. carrying out our invention, we provide.

a check perforating apparatus formed prin cipally in two parts. First, a base, wherein are carried the plates having thereon the words, phrases, figures or design desired,

date stamps, ,ribbon, ribbon control, and the like, and; secondly, the upper portion wherein is carried the platen, spring control means therefor, guiding means for the check, handle to operate the device, and the like, this upper portion being pivotally at tached to the base. We also provide means for securing the upper portion to the base in a firm and rigid manner. As a further feature of the construction, when the device is no longer to be utilized, or on the closing of the bank at night, we provide a novel means to lock the handle in rigid closed position, so that the device cannot be operated or tampered with by anyone other than the proper fficial.

In order to carry out our invention of protecting checks, or the like, by cutting and colorin simultaneously, we provide a platen on the upper portion of our device,

5, 1924. Serial No. 736,123.

which platen is formed with a knurhng, obliquely of the platen, as shown in the present drawing, although it will be understood and appreciated that this knurling may assume any form, so long as it carries out our-invention. The letters and figures comprising the certification stamp, or the like, in the base, are also knurled tocoopcrate with the knurling in the platen. We provide a coloring means, preferably a ribbon, as herein shown, which is positioned directly over the stamp in the base. When it is desired to operate upon or to protect a check, for instance by certification, as herein shown, the check is inserted in the machine, is directed in proper alinement by the guides, and upon operation of the handle, forcing the platen downwardly, the knurling on the platen and stamp will cooperate, cutting completely through the paper the words and figures, and simultaneously forcingthrough the perforations, thus formed, the coloring matter from the ribbon. It will also be appreciated that we may utilize our novel check protecting device without a ribbon, or other coloring means, relying on the perforation, or cutting of the letters, words, design or figures entirely through the paper, for the protectingmedium. So far as we are aware, no devlce has ever been perfected, which would perforate a plurality of lines, letters and words in a readily legible manner, entirely through the check, or other paper, to be protected. Thus we have devised a novel apparatus by means of which, after a commercial paper has been protected, said paper is rendered unalterable.

Further features of the invention, novel combinations of parts, and advantages, will be hereinafter more fully pointed out and claimed.

Referring to the drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of our invention,

Fig. 1 .is a side view, partly in cross section, showing the handle in both raised and lowered position;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, partly broken away, of the base portion, with the certification. stamp therein;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the completed device in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a. crom-sectional view on the line 4-4 ,of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a view in enlarged detail, of a portion of the letters in the stamp, showing the knurling thereon;

Fig. 7 being a bottom plan view of the knurled platen; and

Fig. 8 being a greatly enlarged view of the cooperating knurling of the platen and letters, ribbon and check, in close juxtaposition just prior to the cutting and stamping operation.

As shown in Fig. 3, our present device comprises, generally, a base 1, an upper portion 2, andhandle 3, the base resting at each corner upon protecting legs 4 of rubher, or the like resilient material, to protectd the desk or counter where the device is use As shown in Fig. 1, the upper portion 2 is pivotally secured to the base 1 on the pivot 5, the base 1 being provided under this pivot 5 with a depression 6, to permit the upper portion to be raised to provide access to the interior of the device. The upper portion 2 is secured in normal plosition by a tapered shaft 7, this shaft 7 being provlded with a knurled head 8, on one end, and being threaded at the other end 9, to cooperate with a correspondingly threaded recess 10, in the base. The shaft 7 passes through depending lugs 11, 11 onthe upper portion, and is tapered to compensate for wear in these lugs, so that when the apertures in the lugs 11 are worn, the shaft 7 would merely be threaded further into the recess 10, thus taking up the wear and holding the upper portion at all times in a firm, strong, and rigid manner.

Resting on the cross piece'12 in the base 1 and secured thereto by screws 14, 14, is a plate 13, four of the retaining screws being shown. To the plate 13 are attached smaller plates 15 containing the lettering, words or design for the desired stamp, as shown in the present drawings being a certification stamp. To the cross piece 12, in a recess provided therefor, is secured a forked member 17, having sides 18 and 19, between which sides are contained the wheels 20, 20, five of these wheels 20 being shown, and on each are the date configurations. These wheels 20 are mounted on a main shaft 21, and are operated by knurled handles 22, 23 and 24, the handle 24 controlling the days, the handle 23 controlling the months, and the handle 22 controlling the years, in a well known manner. These wheels 20 and fork 21 are positioned in a suitable recess 25 in the cross piece 12. On shafts'30 and 31, passing through apertures in the In s 32 and 33 respectively, is provided a r bbon 34, this ribbon being of any suitable or desirable color. The ribbon 34 passes over fixed cylindrical rods 35 and 36, and also passes over the date figures on the wheels 20, and; the raised letters and words 37 on the plates 15. The ribbon holding shaft 30 is manipulated or rotated by a knurled handle 38, and is held in even and relatively nonrotatable position by means of a spring 39, said spring being held in place on the shaft 30, opposite the handle 38. The same construction is also provided for the shaft 31, and need not be described herein. The action of the two springs on the shafts 31 and 30 tends to hold the ribbon taut and prevent bunching of the same. i

The rubber legs 4 are secured to the base 1 by retaining screws or bolts 41, 41, or in any other desired manner. As previously explained, the upper 2 is pivoted on the base 1 on the shaft 5. Through apertures 50 in lugs 51, 51, on the upper 2, are fitted headed bolts 53, 53. These bolts are'threaded at their lower ends into the platen 54, this platen having a centrally raised ridge 55. The bolts 53 and platen 54 are normally held in upward position, against the lugs 51, by coiled springs 56, 56. It will be appreciated that there are two of these bolts 53 at each side of the platen 54, only two being herein shown, and a description of these two will sulfice "for all. The handle 3 is normally in raised position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, and is attached to the link 57 by an oscillating pivot 58, this link 57 being forked at 59, and the end 60 of the handle 3 fitting in said fork. The link 57 is pivotally attached to the upper 2 on the pivot 57. The handle end 60 operates the cam 61 by means of an oscillating pivot 62, the cam 61 rotating on a fixed pivot 63. When the handle 3 is in normal raised position, the cam 61 rests with its face 64 flat on the ridge of the platen. When it is desired to operate the device, the handle 3 is moved downwardly to the base, forcing its end downwardly and to the rear, until it reaches the position shown in-full lines in Fig. 1, whereupon the point 65 of the cam 61 forces the platen downwardly against the tension of the springs 56. The cam 61 is forked from the point 66, to permit positioning of the end 60 of the handle 3 upon its oscillating pivot 62. Upon releasing the handle 3, the same will be raised to its nor- 'mal position by the action of these springs 56, the platen 54 also rising until it is in the position shown in dotted lines in said Fig. 1. On the upper 2 we have provided check guiding means, comprising an adjustable guide 70, this guide being provided with ends (but one being shown) 71, secured to the upper 2 by a thumb nut 72, the ends 71 being provided with'slots 73 to permitadjustment back and forth on the thumb nut. It will be readily seen that this guide 70 will be moved toward or from the stamp member, according to the size of check or paper to be operated upon.

Fig. 4 illustrates in cross section the relative position of the cam 61 on its pivot 63, the platen 54, and bolts 53 for operating the same, and various component parts.

Referring now to Fig.5, which is a crosssectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 1, the handle 3 is shown in downward position, between the sides of the upper portion 2, the handle 8 being provided at this portion with a recess 80. When in downward position, as shown in Fig.5, this recess 80 is alined with a threaded aperture 81, within which aperture is a locking member 82, threaded as shown at 83. When in unlocked position, the member 82 is contained entirely within the threaded aperture 81. It being desired to lock the same, a locking key (not shown) having a square end is inserted into a cooperating squared aperture 84 in the threaded end 83 of the locking member 82, whereupon by rotation of the locking key in the proper direction, the locking member 82 will be threaded to the left, as shown in Fig. and will enter the recess 80 in the hand e the handle 3 being provided with a downward extension 85, to accommodate this recess 80. When the device is in the position shown in Fig. 5, with the handle held by the locking member 82, it will be appreciated that the same can be no longer utilized, and will remain in this locked position until the proper person having the .key unlocks the same, and renders it operable.

Fig. 6 illustrates, in greatly enlarged detail, the letters 37 having thereon the knurling 90, which knurling is cut deeply enough to cooperate with the corresponding knurling 91 on the platen 54. Fig. 8 illustrates this cooperating knurling 90 and '91, in greatly enlarged detail, having therebetween .the ribbon 34;, and a check, or the like, 95

to be operated upon. Upon movement of the platen 54 downwardly, it will be appreciated that the knurling 90, for example, will enter the valley 96 in the platen 54, thus cutting, penetrating, lacerating, entirely through the check 95. The'ribbon 34 Will not be torn or injured by reason of this penetrating action because the ribbon being relatively soft, as compared with the paper, will give so that it will conform to the knurlings on the letters and platen, whereas the paper being stifi will not give, but: will be penetrated by the points or edges of said knurling. It will be understood that all of the letters, and all of the figures on the stamp or design are thus knurled to cooperate with the entire k'nurling of the platen 54.

The operation of our novel device is simple and will be readily understood. With the apparatus in normal position, the handle raised, a check or the like to be operated upon is inserted'over the stamp or design and ribbon, and under the platen, positioned by means of the guide therefor, whereupon movement of the handle downthe handle, the same together with its cooperating parts, includingthe platen, will be raised to normal position by means of the coiled springs 56.

While we have necessarily described our invention somewhat in detail, it will be appreciated that we may vary the size,

shape and arrangement of parts within wide limits, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Our invention is further described and defined in the form of claims as follows: 1 1. A device of the kind described, comprising a base, a changeable stamp or die contained in said base, a ribbon adapted to be fed over said stamp, an upper portion pivotally attached to the lower portion, means to normally hold said upper portion in position on said base, check guiding means, a spring controlled platen to cooperate with the stamp in the base, an oscillating pivoted handle adapted to operate a cam to bring said platen and stamp into contact, said platen and stamp being knurled to perforate a check, and means in the upper portion to lock said device. 2. A device of the kind described, comprising a base, a changeable stamp or die contained in said base, a ribbon adapted to be fed over said stamp, an upper portion pivotally attached to the'lower portion, adjustable means to normally hold said upper portion in position on said base, check guiding means, a spring controlled platen to cooperate with the stamp in the base, an oscillating pivoted handle adapted to operate a cam to bring said platen and stamp into contact, said platen and stamp being knurled to perforate a check, and means in the upper portion to lock said device.

3. A device of the kind described, comprising a base, a changeable stamp or diecontained in said base, a ribbon adapted to be fed over said stamp, an upper portion pivotally attached to the lower portion, removable adjustable means to normally holdsaid upper portion in position on said base, 

